Jackson, who made a key defensive play to preserve Sunday's 2-1 win over the Padres, entered Tuesday without having committed an error in 200 total chances.

No one's predicting a Gold Glove Award this season, but he looks more self-assured in the field, something he attributes to a new attitude he took into this season.

"I came into with almost a carefree attitude about it," he said. "I just didn't care what other people thought about it anymore. I'm worried about what I think about it. I'm going to make errors. It's going to happen."

He said the difference is mostly mental - "It's all mind-set; it really is" - but he also mentioned an adjustment he made during spring training, tweaking his glove angle while in the ready position.

He said the change, which he worked on with infield coach Chip Hale, puts him in a better position to field hard-hit balls.

Byrnes sits again

Continuing to give left fielder Eric Byrnes a chance to rest his hamstrings, manager Bob Melvin had him out of the starting lineup Tuesday but said he would be back in there Wednesday.

Byrnes said his hamstrings, which have bothered him since early in spring training, feel much better, thanks to a couple of days off last week.

"I probably feel better now than I did on Opening Day," Byrnes said.

"We're trying to be cautious," Melvin said. "He's still not 100 percent."

Good to go

Right-hander Micah Owings, who sprained an ankle running the bases Saturday in San Diego, threw his standard between-starts bullpen session Tuesday and proclaimed himself ready to make his scheduled start Friday against the Mets.

"Everything felt good," he said.

His only limitation might be on the basepaths, where he probably won't be running at full speed.

"I give all the credit to the guys in there," he said, motioning toward the trainers' room. "They spent hours on it to get me back out there."

Empty seats

Though the Diamondbacks have the best record in baseball and are coming off a trip to the National League Championship Series, attendance hasn't been particularly strong, evidenced by Monday night's season-low crowd of 19,868.

Club President Derrick Hall said that although the totals are not what the team would like to see, it's an .

"Being close to 20,000 last night," Hall said, "if this was a year ago at the same time of year with the same opponent, we may have drawn 16,000."

In fact, on April 26, 2007, the club drew 16,802 for a game against San Diego.

"It's the opponent, on a weekday with school still in session," he said. "We expect larger numbers, but you come to expect smaller nights. We just don't draw well for Houston."

Still, the club is ahead of last year's pace, having drawn 355,308 in 12 games, up from 292,771.

Short hop

Infielder Chad Tracy began playing games in his rehabilitation from knee surgery, going 2 for 6 with a home run in extended spring training. He is not yet playing the field and will remain in extended spring training for "several games," Melvin said, before playing for Triple-A Tucson.

He didn't figure in the decision, but what a debut by right-hander Max Scherzer, who retired every batter he faced in 4 1/3 innings.

Key moment

Geoff Blum's bases-clearing double in the third inning was the difference in the win, as left fielder Jeff Salazar couldn't cut off the ball, allowing all three runners to score.

Key number

98: Radar-gun reading of Scherzer's sizzling fastball.

View from the press box

Congrats to Jose Valverde, who returned to Chase Field and recorded a save against his former teammates. But with the way Brandon Lyon has taken to his new role, it's pretty clear that the Diamondbacks don't miss Valverde much. Add to that the way Chad Qualls, who came over from Houston in the same deal, has looked (no earned runs in 14 appearances), and the Diamondbacks have to be thrilled with what has transpired.

Johnson earned his first win in his start Friday at San Diego, pitching six innings and allowing one run and three hits with seven strikeouts. He is 285-151 in his career. . . . Johnson's slider hasn't been its usual nasty self, but he's using his split-finger fastball more this year and is getting strikeouts with it. . . . Chacon is eyeing his sixth consecutive quality start for the Astros - pitching at least six innings and allowing three or fewer runs - but is looking for his first decision of the year. . . . Opponents are batting .217 against him, and he owns a 1.39 ERA in three road starts. . . . He is 2-6 in his career against the Diamondbacks but has made five consecutive quality starts against Arizona.